After establishing himself as one of hip-hop’s most visible acts, B.G., virtually disappeared from the scene to battle his personal demons. Focused and recharged, the man whose “Bling Bling” song became a national phenomenon and whose tremendous success as an independent artist helped secure Cash Money Records’ landmark deal in the 90’s with Universal Records returns with a new album, The Heart Of Tha Streetz: Vol 2 (I Am What I Am)to be released March 21, 2006.

Now co-CEO of Chopper City Records along with partner and co-CEO, Carol Dorsey, the original Hot Boy, who started his career in his teens, is now a man. “Everything that I’ve been through qualifies me to be the heart of the streets. Everybody knows my history and my background, so I’ve got the right to call myself the heart of the streets. I’ve been in the game since I was 14. This is my tenth solo project; nine solo albums, three Hot Boys albums, and gang of underground discs. I ain’t but 25 and I’m already a legend.”

While signed to Ca$h Money, B.G. released a string of albums, including True Story (1993), Chopper City (1997), and 1997’s It’s All On U (Volumes 1 and 2). He further bolstered his status by becoming member of the now legendary Hot Boys (Juvenile, Lil’Wayne, and Young Turk). B.G.’s Chopper City In The Ghetto (released in April of 1999), debuted at Number 1 on Billboard’s Top 200 Charts. But what really put him on the map was the album’s anthem, “Bling Bling,” which catapulted B.G. to superstardom. He became a part of history when the term, “bling, bling” used to describe diamonds was added into The Oxford Dictionary, a testament of hip-hop’s effect on modern and pop culture.

After releasing his sixth solo album, Checkmate, B.G. walked away from Ca$h Money and launched his own imprint, Chopper City Records distributed by Koch. He resurfaced with 2003’s Livin’ Legend and its follow-ups, Life After Ca$h Money and The Heart Of The Streetz (Vol 1). With The Heart Of The Streets: Vol. 2 (I Am What I Am) scheduled to hit stores March 21, 2006, B.G.’s intention is to turn Chopper City into a powerhouse. He was instrumental in helping Ca$h Money grow into a dynasty and intends to do the same with Chopper City, but a little differently. “When I was on Cash Money, I wasn’t in the mix of how the money was handled. Being in this industry is bigger than just going in the studio. The studio is the easy part, running a business is the harder part. Carol Dorsey is my partner and she runs the day to day business, but I have the final say.” After nearly a decade in the business, B.G. has learned some valuable lessons. “The game is like 90% business and 10% talent. You can have all the talent in the world, but if you don’t have your business right, you can lose everything.” He offers the following advice, “You gotta keep your management and your record company separate. It’s a conflict of interest for them to be the same and read everything. Before I never saw the paperwork, everything was verbal and I just signed. Now that I understand the business, I feel like if it ain’t it in B&W, then it ain’t right.”

Moving over 300,000 copies independently, B.G. has proven to himself and the industry that his fan base is still intact and his career is still solid. In fact, a bidding war has erupted where several labels are trying to bring the Chopper City CEO into their ‘unit.’ While B.G. weighs his options, he’s moving full steam ahead with Chopper City Records.

Describing the album as “typical B.G.,” the rapper (and now C.E.O.), hooks up with Mannie Fresh, who is featured on and produces the first single, “Move Around.” “I worked with a lotta different producers and most of them are the same producers who I’ve used before like Mannie, Smurf, KLC, KIDD, Bass Heavy, COE, Law, Mouse, Hush, and Howard. I had to get down with Mannie Fresh on the first single, because he’s been a really big part of my success and he’s still family.” B.G. didn’t stop at Mannie, he hit a few other friends on their Sidekicks resulting in collaborations with Paul Wall, Young Buck, T.I., Webbie, and Chopper City Boyz.

Although he now calls Detroit his second home, B.G. still reps for the 504, the area code of his beloved city, New Orleans. If you think he’s forgotten where he’s from after stackin’ that paper, he reminds you on the hook of “Move Around,” that “I’m from the ghetto homey, I was raised on bread and baloney,” keeping his heart and lyrics straight from the heart and in the streets of the Valence & Magnolia and 13th Ward sections of New Orleans. If you think New Orleans, is down for the count, B.G. emphatically says, “Let it be known that Chopper City is here!” B.G. will return to New Orleans with Mannie Fresh to film the video for the first single.